A Kids' Celebration Becomes a Nuisance? 'Fall Sports Day' Faces Noise and Safety Complaints

A relay race was recently canceled following a parent's complaint
Ahn Jaewook also shared his experience of a noise complaint at his daughter's sports day
350 noise complaints about schoolyard events last year
Balancing access to physical activit

The cheers of the blue and white teams once filled the playground at fall sports days, as parents and neighbors gathered to applaud the children racing. What was once a celebration that brought the whole community together in laughter and cheers has now become the subject of complaints that it is "too noisy" and "dangerous." After a story that a relay race was canceled following a parent's complaint sparked controversy online, actor Ahn Jaewook also shared his experience of receiving a noise complaint at his daughter's school sports day.

The fall sports day, when cheers from the blue and white teams filled the playground and parents and neighbors gathered to applaud the children as they ran, was once a celebration that brought the whole community together in laughter and cheers. Now, however, it has become the subject of complaints that it is “too noisy” and “dangerous.” The Asia Business Daily

A video that recently circulated on social media (SNS) shows an elementary school student talking with their father about a sports day. In the video, the child expresses disappointment, saying, "A parent said the relay race was dangerous today, so it was canceled." When the father asks whether the students who would take part in the race had already been selected, the child says they had. The explanation is that the race was canceled over a parent's safety-related complaint, even though the participating students had already been chosen.

People online who heard the story responded with comments such as, "How can you go anywhere outside if it's dangerous?" and "Why would the school cancel it?" Some said canceling the event itself out of safety concerns was excessive, while others said they found the school's response hard to understand.

Noise complaints over the cheers and music at school sports days have also sparked controversy. On the April 4 broadcast of MBC's variety show "Radio Star," Ahn Jaewook shared an anecdote about hosting the sports day at his daughter's elementary school. MBC variety show "Radio Star"

Noise complaints over the cheers and music at school sports days have also sparked controversy. On the November 4 broadcast of MBC's variety show "Radio Star," Ahn Jaewook shared an anecdote about hosting the sports day at his daughter's elementary school. He said he takes part in volunteer activities, including reading books to students at the school and hosting its sports day. He added that he introduced games for each grade and asked parents to applaud and cheer more loudly.

However, he said he heard that near the end of the event, a complaint had been made that the children's cheers and music were too loud. Ahn Jaewook said, "The children make that kind of noise at sports day for just a few hours a day. How could that be considered noise?" He added, "Don't we all have memories of elementary school?" and expressed regret that children's precious memories could be lost because of complaints from some adults. Fellow guest Jeong Youngju agreed, saying, "I actually moved right in front of a school. I wanted to hear those sounds."

Noise complaints related to school field events are also reflected in the statistics. According to data from the National Police Agency, 350 calls to 112 were made last year about noise from school fields, and police were dispatched to the scene in 345 of those cases. The photo shows a sports day poster with an apology message. Social media

Noise reports related to events on school playgrounds are also reflected in the statistics. According to data from the National Police Agency, there were 350 calls to 112 last year related to noise from school playgrounds, and police were dispatched to the scene in 345 of those cases. However, the figure also includes reports about events held on school playgrounds by outside groups, such as alumni associations, not just school sports days.

Last May, the National Police Agency issued a directive to police agencies in cities and provinces nationwide, instructing them to avoid dispatching officers whenever possible in response to simple noise complaints about elementary, middle and high school sports days. Some schools also restrict regular physical activities. According to data compiled by the Ministry of Education as of March this year, 287 of the nation's 6,189 elementary schools (4.6%) restricted some ball games, including soccer and baseball, during lunch and recess. These restrictions reflect concerns about safety incidents based on school conditions, among other factors, and cannot all be attributed to noise complaints.

Alternatives have also been proposed to reduce inconvenience to residents when organizing sports days. In its "2026 School Sports Work Manual," the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education advised schools to notify nearby residents in advance of event dates and times, limit excessive microphone use, and adjust event schedules. The aim is to improve mutual understanding and prevent complaints by communicating with residents while managing noise.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.